Tag Archives: Printers

Internet of Things, Internet Security, IoT

Is IoT Right for Your Business?

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IoT, or the internet of things, has taken the world by storm. In 2018, the smart devices market value is estimated at a whopping $164 billion and will grow exponentially in the next few years.

Every discerning business owner might be wondering whether IoT is ideal for their business and what they stand to lose by not investing in it. 

Well, here is all the information you need to decide whether to invest in IoT. 

What Is the Internet of Things?

Simply put, IoT refers to all the devices that collect and transmit data over the internet. Also known as smart devices, these appliances help to make life more convenient for users. 

For example, IoT devices include smart fridges that regulate temperature independently and smartwatches that double as health devices.

What Are the IoT Advantages for Business Owners?

IoT use is highly prominent in the personal sphere. However, the past few years have seen increased use of this technology in the corporate and manufacturing world. Some of the benefits that organisations enjoy by employing this technology include:

Lower Operational Costs

Smart devices can help businesses save a lot on their utilities. An innovative HVAC system, for instance, maintains a building’s temperature to a suitable degree. This minimises unnecessary heating or cooling that often leads to energy wastage. Over time, you will end up saving a substantial amount of money.

Additionally, you can use IoT devices to reduce your labour costs. For instance, voice assistants can competently accomplish most tasks that assistants do, like organising your calendars, connecting with customers on live chat video software and reminding you of when projects are due. 

Offers More Convenience

IoT devices make life much easier for everyone at the office. Take a smart printer, for example. Rather than deal with disgruntled employees inconvenienced by a lack of ink in the printer, you can have smart printers that detect ink levels and inform you when you are running low. 

Some devices even pinpoint issues as they arise, thus giving you ample time to rectify them. This can save your company a lot of inconvenience and worry. 

Smart locks are yet another IoT device that offers incredible convenience. With them, you don’t need to carry keys around all day. Additionally, since you can use an app to open the door, it is easier to access buildings when you are in a hurry.

Improve Your Competitiveness

There is no denying that the IoT is the future of business. Therefore, a company that fails to take advantage of this new technology will lose its competitive edge in the coming decade.

For instance, in the manufacturing field, IoT for automation can tremendously improve a company’s efficiency. The more efficient an organisation is, the better it will be at handling its customer’s needs. This enables it to retain its current customers and attract new ones. 

IoT Concerns

Granted, IoT has its fair share of concerns. However, the most prominent one is the security risk the devices pose due to their susceptibility to hackers.

However, you can quickly mitigate these risks by investing in solid security infrastructure.

So, Should You Invest in IoT?

By and large, the pros of using IoT in your company far outweigh the cons. However, before you decide to invest in it, ensure that it will help you meet your company goals. If it will, do not hesitate to incorporate it into your entity.

Printers, Road Trip

The Best Portable Printers Money Can Buy Right Now

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Most people would pack their laptop if they were going on a long trip – especially for business. But relatively few would think of bringing their printer along for the ride. That’s just plain weird.

However, things are changing in the printer market. Like so many electronics, technology is miniaturizing them, and we’re now getting to the point where you can fit them in your pocket – seriously. 

These funny little devices are called portable printers and they function just the same way as their bigger brothers. There’s just one crucial difference – you’re the one who has to manually control them. The concept is a little weird. But somehow it works. 

Basically, you start off with a piece of plain paper lying on your desk. You then take the portable printer in your hand and then carefully drag it from left to right across the page, being careful to line everything up correctly. It requires a bit of skill, but once you get the hang of it, the results are almost miraculous. It lets you turn your hotel room into a bona fide office space, not just somewhere to ping off emails. 

So what portable all-in-one printer devices are on the market? And how good are they for graphic design? Find out more below. 

Brother P-Touch Cube

Brother is one of the biggest brands in the printer space and offers products in practically every niche. And now it has a portable printer it’s marketing as a label printer called the P-Touch Cube. 

The way it works is pretty simple. Inside the printer, there’s a reel of stickers. When you want to print something, the roll extends and the printer head starts printing out your chosen design on the sticker. Once it finishes, it then pushes the completed print through a hole at the front, ready for you to tear off.

Canon Ivy Mini Photo Printer

The Canon Ivy Mini Photo Printer is a product that makes a lot of sense – especially coming from a brand like Canon which also makes cameras. 

Canon knows that when people go on vacation, they want both digital and physical photos. In the past, they had three options:

  • Go to a print shop
  • Use a low-quality Polaroid
  • Wait until they get home to print out their snaps on their home printer

None of these options is ideal,  which is why Canon introduced the Ivy Mini. This cute device is small enough to take on vacation but large enough to print out your favourite holiday scenes.

REINER Speed-i-Jet 798 HandHeld Inkjet Printer

Perhaps the strangest product of the bunch is the retro Reiner Speed-i-Jet 798. This is essentially a handheld device for right-handed users that fits in the hand a little like a pen but will print out digital fonts perfectly. 

Reiner says that the device operates silently and runs on two AA batteries. 

Calop E-Mark

Another brand doing something similar is Calop. Its device is more like a regular computer mouse than a pen, but the effect is the same. You drag it across the page to create your print.